While other people in a similar situation would escape through alcohol, being super busy, drugs, gimmicks, “mall-itis” (laging nasa mall), and what have you, I chose to face my problems squarely by clinging to the Lord through Daily Mass and Holy Communion, regular Confession, extended prayer times in the Adoration Chapel, God’s Word, offering myself to be used for service and also doing the simple tasks to be done for my family. 

I want to share about SERVICE. If we recall our LSS/ECLS, SERVICE is one of the spokes of the Growth wheel. Since I had all the time for service now that I am in between jobs (“pinaganda lang…walang trabaho”), I made myself available for service. I volunteered to serve as speaker and Discussion Group Leader (DGL) in the 3-day PNP ECLS in Clark last February 10-12 together with other brothers from the South Sector led by Oscar Papa and assisted by Lito Pineda. The immersion experience we had in Clark was life-changing for me. I experienced  first-hand the powerful work and inspiration of the Spirit. Tough, veteran, hardened police officers shedding tears after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation which they failed to avail of  for many years (truly there was great rejoicing in heaven that day because not only one, but more than 30 police officers repented! Lk. 15 : 7). The Spirit’s gentle and loving Presence in the praying overs and Baptism in the Spirit was also felt powerfully! The members of the service team also gave up our “Isaacs” and went out of our comfort zone since we ate what the participants ate (usually rice and one ulam) in 15-20 minutes flat! We also didn’t have the luxury of having our own individual bathrooms. 

Mario, flanked by Oscar Papa and the South Sector LSS Team, with their PNP brothers

The Spirit continued to pour on me the gift of zeal for service, mission, and evangelization a few days after the PNP ECLS in Clark through the different sharings and messages in our Community Conference last February 21. The Spirit ignited in my heart the fire for mission and service through the words of Jean Barbara that was shared in the conference …”You cannot simply stay within the walls of Ligaya. You would not be able to fully understand your call unless you give and you give more. And the more you give, the more you will understand what God has called you to do and to be. You will discover God working miracles in you, in your families, in your children, and in the community.” 

I was particularly touched by the sharing of the Prison Ministry of the North Sector at the Quezon City Jail as shared by Dr. Charlie Lasa and the sharings of Lito Pineda and Jun Ramirez about Tahanan Ng Panginoon. I felt a strong prompting from the Spirit to actively join the Compassion Ministry. My coordinator, Manny de los Santos, confirmed this and he appointed me to form and head  SD-A’s Compassion Ministry. He introduced me to the core group of the Prison Ministry of Ayala Alabang’s Parish of St. James. I have been regularly joining their weekly visits & powerful prayer meetings to 100 inmates of the Muntinlupa City Jail. I also joined the North Sector Prison Ministry in one of their weekly visits & bible study at the Quezon City Jail. I have also volunteered to give talks to TNP “Tambakan” in Tramo, Paranaque. For many years now, each time I read about the Corporal Works of Mercy in Matthew 25 : 35-36, 40 (“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…I needed clothes and you clothed me…I was in prison and you came to visit me…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”, I have this uncomfortable feeling inside me since I still have to actualize this. 

Now I know that one of the reasons God called me into “exile” is so that I can serve him more actively in the “open door” of the Ministry of Compassion and PNP ECLS, which normally, I could not do because of my hectic work schedule. Thus, I say : “Thank you Lord for allowing me to go into exile so that I can serve you more!” 

Mario and Lei Romero and their family

(Mario Romero, 57 years old, is happily married to Leah Romero. They have 5 grown up children—Dominic, 32, Christine, 30, Raquel, 27, TJ, 26, and Peter John, 24, (their son afflicted with a rare congenital heart and lung defect). Mario and Leah have been with LNP since June 1982. Leah serves in the Mother Butler Guild in their parish while Mario heads the newly-formed Compassion Ministry of SD-A and is a member of the South Sector Word Ministry. Mario is a mainstay in the PNP ECLS Service Team since the time of the late Gen. Nap de los Santos.) 

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The combined districts of South A, D, E, F and G decided to concentrate its relief efforts on Cupang, Muntinlupa to have a greater impact. As seen from the picture below, the area is still flooded one (1) week after Ondoy. Only trucks, SUVs, Jeeps, and boats can access the area. There are over 1000 families that had to be relocated to three (3) evacuation sites in Cupang because their houses are no longer inhabitable. There are also thousands of families with partially submerged homes that also need help.

Cupang, Muntinlupa, one week after Ondoy.

After a brief survey of the requirements, and interviewing the evacuees, the relief goods that were in urgent need at that time were blankets, banigs, medicines, clothes, and food items.

Through the generosity of our members we were able to raise enough cash to buy the following:

• 1000 blankets
• 500 banigs
• 500 family medical kits
• Assorted clothes
• Assorted food items

Numerous donors also donated relief goods that were included in the bags.

The packing and sorting of the relief goods started on October 2 (Friday) and ended October 3 (Saturday). This was held at the Hampton Court Clubhouse of Hillsborough Village. There were more than 50 people who volunteered from our sector including our YAs, JYA, FOJs, Singles, and Parents.

YAs and JYAs joined to pack relief goods on Oct 2 and 3.

By 6PM on Friday, more than 1200 bags were packed and filled with relief goods. The YAs and the other children were a big help, and because of them the packing went very fast and allowed us to finish before dinner time. Three of our members even decided to celebrate their birthday while packing the goods, one even treated everyone for merienda.

50 happy, but tired brothers and sisters = 1200 bags packed!!

The distribution to Cupang happened the day after (Saturday, Oct 3). Two trucks from our members we not enough to carry all the relief goods, and 4 more closed vans were volunteered by the local barangay and city government to help carry the items.

"Called for such a time as this."

The distribution still went ahead even with the arrival of typhoon Pepeng, which luckily did not affect us as much as Ondoy.  The distribution was more challenging than expected because there were so many people in the area that were affected. Over 30 members helped in the distribution, some YAs also joined. One of the members volunteered his coaster van to carry us all to the evacuation site.

After a few days, the head of relief operations in Cupang sent us a thank you letter and included these pictures of the kids using the banigs and blankets we gave. The smiles tell it all. It was tiring but very fulfilling for all those who got involved. The Lord used us to bring His blessings to the victims of Ondoy in Cupang.

"God blesses you who are poor for the Kingdom of God is given to you." Luke 6:21

Below is a gallery of additional photos:

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In a phrase, I can describe my life in Community by saying that “This is all because of Obedience.”

I first began my journey in Ligaya in 2006 through the Purpose Driven Life Series sponsored by the South Sector, held every Monday from March 2006 in Festival Mall, Alabang.  I was literally forced to participate in that so called PDL Series by my Mom. She told me, “Anak, kelangan ka mag attend sa PDL kasi wala kaming candidate ni Daddy mo.  Hindi pwede na wala kaming candidate.”  I considered myself FORCED, BERATED, and even BRIBED just to attend Ligaya activities.

Eena Abrenica

But at that point, I had no choice.  My mom’s order for me to attend seems like a life and death situation for her in Ligaya.  I thought, wala ba silang friends at bakit ako kailangan pilitin?  Yet, I obeyed.  All because I had this funny thought that my parents would be kicked out of Community all because they did not have a candidate for PDL.

And so I attended – almost completing all sessions of the PDL, and taking seriously each presentation.  I found myself angry, but taking seriously each talk.  That was the first time too that I came to know the sisters from the Singles District.

But the PDL Series was timely to me for at that point I was experiencing Quarter Life Crisis.  It was a time when I was seeking my purpose in life, and what I am called to do as a daughter, as a sister, as a friend, and as a professional.  And through that PDL Series God spoke to me clearly, “You are created for God’s family.”

Of course, I did not thank my Mom for forcing me to attend the PDL after that Series ended.  Otherwise, she would again force me to attend the rest of the activities.  But I thank God for making me OBEY.

But after that PDL, I received SMS messages from a sister from South G inviting me to the Annual Singles Retreat of the district.  Unfortunately, I told my mom about it, so she again told me, “Mag reply ka ng YES.  Nakakahiya kapag di magreply.  Respect yan.”  Oh well, I had no choice but to reply.  And of course, I said YES.  And eventually that sister who invited me to the retreat became my first Pastoral Leader.

From then on, I just found myself attending the Community Weekend in 2007 and the district gatherings.  And every time I came home, Mommy would always meet me with a big smile.  She would just say “Anak, masaya talaga ako kapag nag-aattend ka ng Ligaya.  Ikahahaba ng buhay naming ni Daddy mo yan.”  And so, attending the formation courses and the rest of the Ligaya activities was all because these were LIGAYA NI MOMMY.  When asked why I was always out of the house on weekends, I would reply, “Hay naku, pupunta ako sa LIGAYA NI MOMMY.”  In my mind, how can I not attend community activities when my attendance would lengthen the life of my mom.  And if I do not go, this will be ANG LUNGKOT NI MOMMY.   I told God, sige na nga, Lord. 

Mom, Enee, and Dad

Although my presence in community was all because I had to obey my Mom, I found myself enjoying the teachings.  I took the courses seriously, and I really tried to apply them in my life.  Unknowingly, I found myself enjoying Community Life.  My mom would sometimes tease me, “Anak, Ligaya ni Enee na ba yan?” I would tell her, Ligaya ni Patty”.  Patty Domingo was my Pastoral Leader then.  My pastoral leader asked me to attend all the courses whenever offered, and she would tell me “Enee, wag kang mag-absent ha, para wala tayong make up session. And baka matagal pa i-offer ang course.  Kaya take mo na, Day.”  And so I finished all the formation courses in less than 2 years.

In 2008, my Pastoral Leader asked me to serve as the district’s Tithe Collector.  Again, it was a test of obedience.  I could not say no to my pastoral leader, who at that time was already preparing to move on from the Singles District to the married district.  I did not want to make her life difficult.  How could I say NO to her? I did not want to ruin her credit standing as pastoral leader, having a member who did not want to serve.  And so I said YES and I had to OBEY.  I just had to because of her.

But God has blessed my YES to the service.  I realized how significant the role of the Tithe Collector is to the life of the brothers and sisters and to the Community as a whole.  And again, I took the service seriously, and considered it “THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.”  Whenever my Mom found me issuing Provisional Receipts and literally praying over them, she would ask me, “Anak, ano yang ginagawa mo?”  I would tell her, “Mommy, I need to pray over these booklets of Provisional Receipts, para maubos agad. That would mean that all of the brothers and sisters were up to date with their tithes.  Tulungan mo akong mag pray over.”  So, both of us will pray over the booklets.

Though I felt that the responsibility was too big, I enjoyed being the district’s Tithe Collector.  I got the chance to communicate with brothers and sisters, and to be closer to them.  In effect, I found my place in their lives.  What I was doing was Ligaya ni Enee.

When I got my invitation to accept the Covenant this year, I thought, was this too soon?  Although they knew that I got the invitation, my mom and dad were unusually silent.  And my dad just said, “Day, all you have to do is accept.”

During the Covenanted Candidates Retreat and the 40 day period of discernment before the Feast of the Covenant, I had only this thought in mind.  “What would life be under the white VEIL?”  My life in community had just been a life of saying yes out of obedience, though my heart was not into it.  From Ligaya Ni Mommy, Ligaya Ni Patty, Ligaya ni Enee.  So, I asked God, whose JOY is it really?

After discernment, two senses were clear to me: First, my obedience is nothing without God.  God has drawn something good out of my YES, and He has never withdrawn anything from me.  He has even multiplied and made me fruitful.  Second, I am in Community not because I am worthy to be here, but this is where God wants me to be.  No matter whose Joy it is, ultimately what is important is what is pleasing to God.  This is Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon –  my family is happy; my district is happy; my sector is happy; the community is happy and truly, God is happy. 

Thank you.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The above sharing was given by Enee prior to making her public commitment during the Feast of the Covenant on September 20, 2009, at the A-Venue Hall. – Eddie Mendoza

Stories related to the 2009 Feast of the Covenant:

• Kuya Tony Exhorts Everyone To Engage In Battle
• My Boat, My Anchor, And My Seashore – sharing by Bobby Quitain
• Being a Silent Witness Is Not Enough – sharing by Charmz Bautista
• Ligaya Elects Sector Coordinators

Tito Pete was born and raised in Mangatarem, Pangasinan. In 1948, his family moved to Manila and his father who was a public school principal in Pangasinan enrolled him at  the then Ateneo de Manila for his college education. The young Pete always wondered how his family could have afforded to send him to the Ateneo given that his father earned a meager income from his job. Raising his own family years later and having come to know God more deeply, Tito Pete discovered the answer: “God provides!”

He vividly recalls that on his very first day at the Ateneo, his Jesuit professor said, perhaps in a jocular manner, “If you want to be a successful businessman and get rich, go to La Salle. But if you want to change the world, you can stay at the Ateneo”. Being a young idealist from the province, he decided he wanted to “change the world”.

Surrounded and educated by Jesuits, he could so easily have been a man of the cloth but somehow, he couldn’t imagine being called Father Padre. In 1952 he graduated with a Bachelor in Literature degree, major in Journalism, cum laude and salutatorian of the class. On his last year in college, he was working as a regular full-time reporter for the Philippines Herald, a major national daily before Martial Law. Ten years later, due to hard work and sheer talent and skills, he held the top post in the editorial department as the news editor.

Pete and Rose Padre (South B)

Meanwhile, in 1960, he met, fell in love with and married a young teacher from Manila, Rosemarie Pasimio or Rose. Their marriage bore three children, 2 girls and a boy, now all grown-up and professionals themselves. Tito Pete and Tita Rose are also the proud grandparents of 16-year-old twin girls.

After 12 years in the newspaper business, Tito Pete decided he (not to mention Tita Rose) had had enough of the late nights. Worse, he found himself being subjected to pressures from the Herald’s powers-that-be who supported opposing political parties. Certain that that was not the life for him and his family, he wasted no time in resigning from the Herald and shifting to the world of corporate communications.

Moving up the so-called corporate ladder, Tito Pete enjoyed better compensation and  more generous fringe benefits. In Tita Rose’s words, “The Lord’s provision via Pete’s salary increased in proportion to our family needs as the children grew older”.

But as he started earning more money, Tito Pete developed a craving for more, and more, and still more. He began resenting those who seemed to be moving ahead faster than he. In retrospect, Tito Pete realizes this was when he started acting like the older son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. He felt he had been a good person and was entitled to all that he was getting, and more. He complained to the Lord, “What about me? Is this what I get for being faithful to You all these years?”.   

Of that time, Tito Pete says, “It is during moments of crisis in faith like this, which comes often in our lives, that the Lord reaches out and touches every one of us – if we would only care to notice”. The Lord, indeed, reached out and touched him then. A friend persistently invited him to the breakfast meetings of a group of businessmen and professionals at the Makati Sports Club where they “talked about nothing else but the Lord and how He was working in their lives”. Resistant at first, Tito Pete thought it was not necessary for him to join another group when he and Tita Rose had been members of the Christian Family Movement since early in their marriage and they were active members of their parish.

In 1981, he finally agreed to go to a breakfast meeting of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) and he never missed a meeting after that. He remembers being touched by the sharer, inspired by the songs and impressed with the important and powerful people in the business and professional world who openly proclaimed the kingship of God in their lives. Having been close to God all his life, his conversion was not a dramatic one attended by lightning and thunder but a “quiet moving from one level of relationship with the Lord to the next”..

A few months later, he and Tita Rose were invited to the Christian Life Program. It was during the CLP that Tito Pete began to see God as a personal God. After being baptized in the Holy Spirit, he and Tita Rose were given increasing responsibilities in the BCBP and they served in various capacities. They decided that they had “found our Pearl of Great Price so we gave up all our other activities which did not involve the Lord’s work”.

In 1984, Tito Pete and Tita Rose were invited to the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. Three years later, they made and accepted their covenant with Ligaya. But even as they joined Ligaya, they continued serving and being active members in the BCBP. They also felt called to serve in their parish, the Resurrection of Our Lord in BF Homes, Paranaque, where they are now the head of the Education, Formation and Communication commission and members of the Parish Pastoral Council Execom.

Tito Pete recalls that during their early years in Ligaya, the entire community met every Sunday at the Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) Gymnasium in Greenhills. The assembly started with Mass at 3 p.m. presided over by Fr. Herb Schneider, S.J., followed by worship. To instill discipline and to train the members in honoring and respecting others’ time, the main door would be closed at exactly 3 p.m. Arriving on time was then imperative unless one wanted to sneak in through one of the side doors.

Foundation talks were also given on Sundays, 1 to 3 p.m. just before the Mass. Tito Pete, who values his siestas, initially found it challenging to stay awake during these talks. But by God’s grace, he learned to cope and he and Tita Rose went on to complete all the talks without any absence.

In due course, Tito Pete and Tita Rose settled down to a quiet life of growing with and in the Lord “the Ligaya way”. Tito Pete acknowledges that Ligaya is not the only way one can grow in his relationship with God. They served as Pastoral Leaders and then as Service Heads of the Tahanan ng Panginoon Outreach in Clinicville, BF Paranaque.

The Joy of Being with Ligaya

One time, Tito Pete and Tita Rose met their Jesuit chaplain during their Christian Family Movement days and when he asked them what they were busy with they replied that they were with Ligaya “undergoing formation”. The priest was incredulous and told them, “Formation? You are already formed! Go out into the world where you belong!”. Taking the challenge to heart, Tito Pete and Tita Rose gradually returned to their first love – service in their parish, while remaining faithful members of Ligaya, which to them “is and will always be our home”.

In 2000, Tito Pete suffered a stroke. Rather than reject and be anxious about what happened, he totally embraced it as God’s answer to his self-seeking questions aboutwhether or not his being faithful to God was only because He had always been good to him and because He had not put him to the test. Confident that God is sovereign, he completely resigned himself to the Lord’s Will and was “thankful that he was allowed to share in the Lord’s passion and suffering on the Cross, even if only in a very insignificant way”. After about a year of slow yet steady recovery, Tito Pete was able to resume his normal activities and even travelled with Tita Rose to the U.S. 

"Rose has been my north star," Pete Padre.

Tito Pete looks back and says that his life has been an uneventful yet happy, fruitful, rewarding, and fulfilling one. He feels that he has not experienced very significant highs and lows. He claims that Tita Rose, who has always been very religious and spiritual, has given him the greatest sense of meaning and purpose in his life. She has been his North Star, the one who has been “keeping me on a straight course, safeguarding my principles and values from corruption by the world and being the firm anchor in my spiritual llife”. She together with their children and grandchildren give Tito Pete the greatest joy in life.

God uses certain occasions, times of great and significant decision-making, to chart a person’s life direction. Tito Pete sees 2 major crossroads in his life that set his life in a definite direction and that shaped everything that he became and turned out to be. First was when he obtained his college education at the Ateneo which helped determine his career path. And second was his marriage to Tita Rose which has been the greatest source of joy and purpose of his life.

The best truth that God has shown him about Himself is that He is a loving Father who  always gives what is best for His children. Tito Pete realizes that death is inevitable for everyone and far from the evil that it is often associated with, he sees it as a “going home”, something necessary to take us to the Father. Speaking from the vantage point of a 76-year old, he has discovered that in the end, what matters most to him is his family and that having too much money, more than what is needed to have some degree of financial independence and the peace of mind that it brings, is really not necessary to be happy.

Asked what he can advise younger people about living a happy and meaningful life, Tito Pete urges, “Find your North Star and always be guided by it; always have an eternal perspective in everything you do”.  

- Written by Ging Non (Central E)  for NOW Ministry